| Abstract: | Novel Synthesis of a Lanthanide Trialkyl – Characterization and Crystal Structure of Yb(CH2 t Bu)3(thf)2 The solvated ytterbium alkyl Yb(CH2tBu)3(thf)2 ( 1 ) was obtained in moderate yield from the reaction of ytterbium metal with neopentyl iodide. Ruby‐red air‐sensitive crystals of 1 were characterized by melting point, elemental analysis, IR, NMR, and UV/Vis spectroscopy and by X‐ray crystallography. In the solid state the ytterbium atom shows a trigonal bipyramidal coordination with the neopentyl groups and the THF ligands occupying equatorial and axial positions, respectively. |
